Amusement ride



N. BARTLETT AMUSEM'ENT RIDE April 2, 1940.

Filed April 2, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet l T ORNEYS INVENTOR April 2, 1940.

N. BARTLETT AMUSEMENT RIDE Filed April 2, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 `INVENTGR Nofmgg Barle,

v TToRNE/s April 2, 1940. N. BARTLETT 2,196,093

AMUSEMENT RIDE Filed April 2, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 mig @L SQ Ow @www v INVENTOR Normgg Baftlatf, M ATTOj gru-:tls

Aprilz, 1940. N, BARRETT4 2,196,093

AMUSEMENT RIDE Filed April 2, 1938 6 SheeS-Sheerl 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 2, 1940. N, BARTLETT y 2,196,093

AMUSEMENT RIDE INVENTOR o l.' Qua" ATTORI EYs April 2, 1940. N, BARTLETT 2,196,093

AMUSEMENT RIDE Filed April 2, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 N NQ www* a/ nf ATTORN EYS Patented Apr. 2, 1940 UNITED STATES gPATENT vori-Teli:

5 Claims.

This invention relates to amusement apparatus and it has particular relation to the `construction of passenger vehicles, together with control mechanism and scenic or illusory courses through 5. which passengers ride in connection with the operation of the vehicles. y

In the type of apparatus or soi-called amusement rides with which this invention is concerned, a track is provided through a series of l` lighted andclosed chambers,v and in various sections of the chambers, the passengers in successive cars are subjected to speed illusions, spin illusions, storm` illusions, etc. For purposes of attracting prospective customers, mirrors are l arranged in such manner that reflections as viewed from outside of at least one of the chambers, create an illusion of the vehicle traveling upon a side wall or ceiling of certain sections of the chambers.

A special type of passenger vehicle or car is designed to travel upon a track composed of one or more traction rails an-d which is laid along the floors of the chamber sections to provide an endless course. Casters are provided adjacent opposite sides of each car for operation on the oor toinsureiproper vehicle balance, and a revolving body constitutes the upper superstructure of the car. A circular track constructed as a part oi a suitable undercarriage supports the revolving bodyand` a special steering mechanism isprovided for maintaining desired position of the revolving body onl the circular track. The steering mechanism is disconnected at certain locations in the chambers and other arrangements cause the revolving body to revolve for certain periods out of control, all of which adds tothe interest `and amusement ofthe apparatus.

A suitable electric motor and automatic brakes are provided .for controlling the operation of the car and automatic switches are provided for stopping the motor and applying brakes in the event one car collides with another. vThis arrangement insures safety vand prevents damage to parts of the operating mechanism of the cars. Additional motor control devices are included at loading stations or'platforms to insure proper electrical connection or disconnection among the operating devices of thecar. y

' One object of `the invention is to provide an improved clutch controlled steering mechanism for a passenger car used in amusement rides.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a passenger carv an improved clutch controlled u. steering mechanism which is automatically oper` able by devices placed in the path of travel of the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of electrical contact control apparatus for establishing electrical cir- 5 cuit through an electrically energized rail to a vehicle motor or other operating parts of the vehicle. Another object of the invention is to provide an improved association between brake and l0 bumper of vehicles operatedr electrically for automatically applying brakes to the vehicle and stopping an` electric motor that applies operating power to the vehicle.

, Another objectof the invention is to provide 15 an improved transmission or drive gearing from a motor to traction wheels of a passenger car.

Another object of the invention is to provide 'an improved arrangement of tracks and traction 'While passengers are entering or leaving such car.

In the drawings: 30v

Fig. l is a diagrammatic plan of the structure of an amusement ride designed according to the invention; l

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic vertical section taken longitudinally of the structure of the amusement 35v ride; c

Fig. 3 is aI-diagrammatic plan of an upper portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating diagrammatically a passenger car,l together 40 with track arrangement and operating elements therefor;l

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the passenger car as it appears on a laterally inclined track section; 45k.

Fig. 6 is a s ide elevation, on a larger scale, of a passenger car mounted upon a track and including arrangement of live rail; i

Fig. '7 is a vertical section taken substantiallyv along the line VII-VII of Fig. 6; 50v

Fig. 8 is a plan of a passenger car with portions broken away to expose steering control mechang ism: c

., Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially along the line IX-IX of Fig. 7;. 55:.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan of track and live rail construction, together with a plan of an undercarriage of a passenger car from which the passenger compartment or body has been omitted;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section, on a larger scale, taken substantially along the line XI--XI of Fig. 10; and

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 11.

In order that the structure and character of the amusement ride involved in this invention may be properly understood, there are shown several diagrammatic figures of the sections and course of travel through which passenger cars 20 or vehicles are operable upon a track composed of one or more rails 23 and 24. Suitable legends are applied to these gures to indicate different phases of the ride.

Each car 20 is provided with a supporting frame work or undercarriage 30 having an annular track 32 and front and rear axles 33 which are mounted in downwardly extending bearing ears 35 secured to the under-carriage. Opposite cylindrical end portions 3G of the front .and rear axles 33 project outwardly and laterally beyond the bearing ears 35 and are adapted to serve as traction wheels in a manner to be subsequently described.

Intermediate portions of the front and rear ax'es 33 are provided with flanged traction wheels 4G which are aligned longitudinally of the track 23 for operation thereon and for travel through the several chambers 42, 43, 44, 45, etc., of the ride. ront and rear sprocket wheels 50 are rigidly mounted upon the axles 33, and an endless block chain 52 is trained about the sprocket wheels 50 and about an intermediate smaller driving sprocket wheel 55 which is supported upon a shaft 55 carried rigidly in a gear box 50. Suitable transmission elements 62 connect the shaft 56 to an electric motor 63 supported at the lower side of the undercarriage 30 upon rigid frame members S5 thereof. The gear box 60 is also mounted upon the frame members B5 and is provided with an idler sprocket wheel 66 rotatedly mounted, as indicated at 01, upon the gear box for directing the block chain 52 about the sprocket Wheel 55 and insuring suicient circumferential driving engagement therewith.

It is to be understood that a conventional type of electric motor 03 is employed and is provided with a buiit-in automatic brake indicated at 69, and braking action is applied to the motor as soon as the current is switched off. Since each car 20 is relatively light the braking action automatically applied to the motor upon stopping electrical operation thereof is transmitted to the wheels l0 through the driving gearing which connects the motor to the axle and car wheels as described above.

In this type of amusement ride the track 23 is laid upon a oor or other suitable supporting surface and, in order that the car 20 may be properly balanced, casters 12 are connected at substantially diametrically opposite sides of the undercarriage. Each of these casters includes a roller 15 rotatably mounted upon a horizontal axle 15 which is carried in a swivel member 11, the upper portion of which is swiveled, as indicated at 13, upon a horizontal hinge plate 19. A suitable pin 80 connects the plate 19 for pivoting about a horizontal axis and supports the caster upon the lowerside of the undercarriage. A buffer 82 composed of rubber or other yieldable material is mounted in a casing 83 that is rigidly secured to the lower portion of the undercarriage and projects downwardly for contacting the upper surface of each plate at a location spaced from the hinge pin. Therefore, if the car tilts laterally it is cushioned by the buffer 82.

A safety device or bumper 90 including a tube 32 is provided with a universal connection 93 securing it to the rear portion of each undercarriage. A second section of tube 94 is telescoped into the tube 92 and is provided with an inner slotted portion 95 to provide for passage thereof past a pin 90 rigidly secured transversely through the rst tube 92. A suitable coil spring 81 is disposed inside the tubes between the inner end of the tube 92 and the outer end of the other tube 9d. A buier head |03 extends rigidly from the outer end of the tube 94 and is provided with a flanged wheel |02 rotatably mounted, as indicated at |03, between a pair of depending legs |05 of the buffer head. The Wheel |02 supports the buffer head at such height as to be in horizontai alignment with a pivotal switch lever |00 at the front end of the car. This switch lever 06 when operated discontinues the supply of electrical current to the motor 53, and hence, if one car overtakes another the switch lever |06 in the overtaking car strikes the buffer head in the car ahead and the brake in the motor thereof is automatically applied. A coil spring |08 is connected to the lever |06 and to ,a bracket |09 that is secured to the front portion of the car and pivotally supports the lever.

A frictional switch IIO extending from the circular track 32 adjacent each end portion of the car connects the motor 63 to a live rail I|2 during the operation of the car. This switch is yieldaby slidable on the live rail I I2 and is movable upwardly to contact a second switch I I5 that is disposed directly above it and is also secured to the circular track 32. This action is effected as a result of travel over elevated portions IIS of the live rail for purposes that will appear as the description proceeds.

Each car includes an upper body or passenger compartment which is mounted upon the circular track 32 by means of hanged wheels I22 circuinferentially spaced about the track and carried upon axles |23 disposed in bearings that are formed in the car body I 20. These wheels I 22 support the body so as to provide for rotation thereof about a substantially vertical axis. Suitable plates |26 rigidly secured to the bottom of the car body extend beneath the marginal portions of the track 32 and prevent vertical displacement of the body therefrom. Lateral wings |21 on the lower opposite side portions of the body |20 serve as platforms or steps to facilitate entry of the passengers into, and their exit from, the car.

One of the flanged wheels I22 (Fig. 9) has a cone shaped recess |30 formed coaxially therein for receiving a cone shaped clutch member |32 that is formed upon the inner end of a clutch sleeve |33. This wheel |22 is rigidly connected to an outward axle extension |35 supported in a bearing |36 and the sleeve is axially slidable and keyed upon this extension. An annular circumferential channel |31 formed upon the sleeve |33 receives therein a trunnion |38 provided upon each leg of a bifurcated arm |40 of a bell crank |42. The outer end of the other arm |43 of the bell crank is pivotally connected, as indicated at |45, to the lower end extension |40 of a solenoid |41 that is rigidly carried upon the body 75:

framework |44.' ANSuitabl'ebracket |48 rigidly mounted upon" the car body` pivotally supports thebe'llv crank |42 at the junction of-its arms* upon a suitable pivot bolt |50.= A coil spring |5| surrounds the lower end portion of the extension |46 and it is-conned between the outer end ofthe arm' |437and thelo'wer vend of the solenoid |41.

`Whe`n the solenoid` |41Hi's` energized the bell crank |42 is pivoted-in a counterclockwise direction as vviewed in Fig.' 9 and disengages the clutch member |32 from the wheel |22. When the solenoid is de-energized the spring|5| forces the clutch member |32 Aback intoclutching engagement with thewheel' |22 and normally maintains it in suchengagement. l Y

' A 'groove'd pulley |52 rigidly connected to the axle extensionH |35receves an endless belt |53 which can bein'the form of a conventional V- belt',A and the latter is trainedabout a similar upper grooved pulley"|55 that is rigidly lconnected to ka :substantiallyhorizontal steering post |56. Suitable bearings |51 rotatably support the steeringgpost upon the upper portion of the car body and a steering wheelA |58 operable-by a passenger in the body |20v can be rotated to revolve the body upon the track so long as the solenoid |41 is not energized. Casing'structureBS surrounds and protects the steering"post and V-belt gearing. The Aoperationof the solenoidis effected from a remote location; for example, at any location desired the elevated vportions ||6 of the live rail can be provided so as to cause the lower switch arm'- l0 toengage the upperswi'tch arm ||5 and thus cause energization of the solenoid |41. Conventional electrical connection is provided between the switch ||5 and the solenoid'. One arrangement for effectingthis action is shown in Fig, 5 wherein the iloor upon which the track is laid is inclined laterally in order to tilt the car.

vThe raised lportion of thelive rail causes the solenoidto operate the clutch element out of engagement with the wheel |22, and hence, the car is then out of control so far as concerns the operasigned to ride, up upon the raised'` rails 24 which n are slightly elevated with respect to the central rail 23. Therefore, the wheels y4 0' are raised there-v from. So long as the ends of the axles operate upon these. elevated rails thelive rail is` also correspondinglyV elevated to insure IproperI contact ofthe switch member lthe'rewith. .The surface of the rails 24 can be covered with rubber or other suitable material |62to. insure proper traction,

orthe ends of the vaiizlescan be so covered. In

order that the' car can be properly guided upon the carfthe'reover'l releases the switch I0, which rides fup'wardly thereover, from the live rail and the. car isthen automatically stopped las previ' ously indicated.

' Normally upright parallel link armsy |65 are providedvwith upper pivotal connections |66 supporting lthe rails and also have lower pivotal connections |61 on the floor 10. At least two of these arms |65 are provided Awith parallel arms |68 rig-y idly projecting at angles thereto and are connected by a link |69 pivoted at its ends to the upper portions ofthe arms |68. A lever arm |10 is rigidly connected to one of the arms |65 and is rockable about one of the pivotal connections |61.A An upper pivotal connection |12 on this lever connects 4the latter to the lower end portion of a pedal 15 that is vertically slidable inthe platform |62. By depressing the pedal |15 the insulating rails |63 are lowered and the switch ||0 is then correspondingly lowered into contact with the live rail l2. A coil spring |16 connected to an outer end portion of one of the arms|68 and to the i'loor 10 is normally under tension and returns th'e rails to their elevated position as soon as the pedal is released. A suitable stop |11'on the platform arrests movement of the arm against the action of the spring |16, and thus the rail supporting link arms |65 are normally disposed in an upright position.

Passengers enter the structure of the amuse ment ride 4at a location indicated by thev arrow 200 and then proceed by means of stairs 202 overreaching the track tothe loading platform |6I?. If desired preliminary amusement features can be provided'for the passengers in the chambersv 203' from which the platform is approached from'the direction of the arrow 205; After passengers are loaded on one of the cars 20, the pedal |15 is operated to lower the switch ||0 intofcontact with the live rail 2 and the car then enters the body of the ride through swinging doors 206. These doors can be electrically opened by cornpleting conventional circuits (not. shown) which are energized by contact of a switch 201 on the track 32 vwith a live rail section 268 (Fig. 7). Any number of doors 206 can be located as desired at the entrances of various chambers indicated in Fig. 1.

As the car enters the spin illusion of the chamber 42, the axle extensions 36 ride upwardly uponA the slow speed rails 24 to retard the car. As a result of suitable lighting in the chamber the desired illusion is effected. The same is true with regard to the chamber 43 in which a banking` and storm illusion is effected. l

After leaving the chamber 43 the caris directed on the singlerail 23 to a ramp 2|0 up which the car is driven at slow speed upon lthe rails 24. From the ramp 2|0 the'car again resumes its normal speed and is driven along the track vupon a balcony 2|2 at the entrance of which the rail H2 is in such raised position as to operate the switch ||0 'automatically against. the switch ||5 to complete the electric circuit to the solenoid |41 and, as a result, disconnect the steering wheel. The track can be tilted at this location, as shown in Fig. 5, to provide for indiscriminate revolving of the carout of control. spectators outside the structure of the amusement ride and from the position indicated at 2| 5 can View this operation. Before the car leaves the balcony to enter the chamber 44 the steering control is again automatically connected and rendered operative.

The car travels at slow speed in the manner previously described as it proceeds through the chamber 44.,V The interior of this chamber can be viewed from the location of the spectators indicated at 2 I 5 by means of a mirror 2 I6 arranged at an angle in the ceiling of the chamber. To the spectators the car appears to be traveling upon a vertical wall of the chamber and the actual vertical walls appear to be the oor and ceiling of the chamber. In order to promote this illusion, furniture 2I1 and lighting fixtures 2| 8 are secured to these vertical walls and a suitable dummy 2l9 is seated at the furniture. In addition to these features, the walls of the chamber are so painted as to simulate a floor and ceiling, and the floor is so painted as to simulate a vertical wall of the chamber.

Upon leaving the chamber 44, the car proceeds at normal speed down the incline or ramp 2l|l to the rear of the amusement ride structure, thence returns toward the front thereof through doors 20S, and at slow speed traverses the speed illusion chamber 45 provided with suitable lighting effects to create the illusion desired. In connection with the chamber 45, which is substantially in the form of a horizontally disposed cylinder or tubular structure, the mirror 42 is disposed in spaced relation adjacent the inner chamber end and in approximate axial alignment with the chamber. Spectators or prospective patrons at 2|5, or at adjacent locations outside the ride structure, can look through the cylindrical chamber into the mirror 42 and the reflected illusion is thus exhibited to them.

The amusement features of the ride will have been traversed after the car is driven from the chamber 45, and the car is returned to the loading platform for reloading, or is aligned with other cars awaiting loading. A number of cars can be unloaded simultaneously along the front side of the structure indicated at 220 and passengers can exit through a one-way gate 222.

Although various features of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an amusement apparatus, a motor driven vehicle having a guiding course over which it is operable, said motor driven vehicle including a supporting structure, a passenger compartment, means supporting said passenger compartment mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis upon said supporting structure, a disengageable steering mechanism on the passenger compartment normally operable to revolve the latter upon the said supporting structure, and means operable from a remote location for disengaging the steering mechanism whereby the passenger compartment is freely rotatable out of control of the occupants thereof.

2. In an amusement apparatus, a motor driven vehicle having a guiding course over which it is operable, said motor driven vehicle including a supporting structure, a circular track on said supporting structure, a passenger compartment mounted upon said track, a steering Wheel in the passenger compartment, mechanism gearing the steering wheel to the track for operating the passenger compartment thereon, remote control means associated with the mechanism for disengagng the steering wheel from said mechanism whereby the passenger compartment is free to revolve about the circular track with the steering wheel inoperative.

3. In an amusement apparatus, a motor driven vehicle having a guiding track upon which it is operable, said track including a laterally inclined section for tilting the vehicle as the latter passes over said section, said motor vehicle including a supporting structure, together with a normally horizontal circular track carried on said supporting structure, a passenger receiving body rotatedly mounted upon said circular track and being subjected to uneven weight distribution when carrying one or more passengers, a steering wheel in said body, mechanism gearing the steering wheel to the circular track for manually operating the body thereon, means rendering said mechanism unresponsive to the operation of said steering wheel while the vehicle is traversing said laterally inclined section, whereby the heavier portion of the weight in the body moves by gravity toward the lower side of said inclined section.

4. In an amusement apparatus, a motor driven vehicle having a guiding course over which it is operable, two switch members one of which is yieldable toward and away from the other and both of which are connected to the vehicle, and a live rail along the course normally contacting the yieldable switch member and having an offset portion for urging the yieldable switch member into contact with the other switch member as the vehicle travels adjacent the offset portion of the live rail.

5. In an amusement apparatus, an electric motor driven vehicle including a supporting structure, a passenger compartment dirigibly mounted upon said supporting structure, steering means for dirigibly operating said passenger compartment upon said supporting structure of the vehicle, a track carrying said vehicle along a predetermined path and having a live rail disposed adjacent thereto, a yieldable switch member on the vehicle normally contacting the live rail for transmitting energy to the driven vehicle, a second switch member `on the vehicle adjacent the yieldable switch member, said live rail having an offset portion in the path of the yieldable switch member whereby the latter is operable into contact with said second switch member for electricallyl rendering said means inoperative.

NORMAN BAR'ILE'I'I.

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